And george stanford



June 15, 1926.

E. L. HOGAN ET AL APPARATUS FOR RECOVERING HEAT FROM VAPORl GASMES, AND THE LIKE s sums-snm 1 Filed Nov. 5' 1922 N l l l @Houmts June 1s, 192e. 1,588,833

E. L. HOGAN ET AL APPARATUS FOR RECOVERING HEAT FROM VAPOR, GASES, AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 5, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 GASES, AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 E. L. HOGAN E1' AL Filed Nov. 3I 1922 awww.:

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June l5 1926.

APPARATUS FOR RECOVERING HEAT FROM VAPOR Patented June 1,5, 1926.

UNITED STTESPTENT OFFICE..

EDWARD LAXVRENCE HOGAN, OF DETROIT, MCHIGAN, AND GEORG-E STANFORD WITHAM, JR., 0F HUDSON' FALLS, NEV YORK, ASSGNORS TO AMERICAN BLOWER COMPANY, 0F DETROIT, MICHGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

APPARATUS FOR RECOVERING HEAT FROM VAOR,GASES, AND THE LIKE.

Application led November 3, 1922.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for recovering heat, water and cheniicals from Waste air, gases, and liberated va# porsl from driers, vats, blow pits, brick kilns, or any process wherein moisture laken, chemical laden, or dust laden vapors are being liberated, or lost, to the atmosphere, the saine being applicable to various kinds of apparatus, or plants such as salt grainers, dye houses, canning factories, paper mills, laundries, clay products plants, boiler or power plants or other places where considerable heat, moisture, or chemicals prevail in the air and ordinarily are liberated to the atmosphere.

lt has heretofore been proposed to i'ecover some of the heat of the hot air and vapors given. otl from dryingequipment and the like by mixing a part of the waste or eX- haust air and vapors with a sufficient amount of fresh or atmospheric air, thus producing a saturated conditionrof the air, and employing means for removing any excess moisture in the air prior to its being reheated and delivered to dry the ivet web of paper, in the case of paper driers, but suoli practice only results in the recovery of less than one half of the heat .in the Waste air and vapors, depending` upon the temperature of the fresh air. F or instance, when the outside frcsh air taken in has a temperature of from 3() to 4f) beloiv Zero in the extreme northern localities, there is a possibility of saving approximately one half of the heat in the Waste air and vapors, but as the outside temperature rises, or as the location of the plant becomes more southerly when the teniperature of the outside air reaches approxi- `mately 60 degrees, there would be no saving and entirely fresh air would have to be used.

rllhe object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus whereby a relatively large part of the heat of the hot air and vapors is recovered and utilized and also whereby it is possible to recover any chemicals or other oy-products that have been vaporized in the manufacturing processes, which may be absorbed or condensed, resulting in a considerable saving in fuel and reduction in the cost of operation of the plant.

Serial No. 598,875.

A considerable amount of hot, or Warm Water is required around manufacturing plants, especially paper mills, textile mills, laundries, etc., and the present invention (,:onteniplates recovering a large amount of heat from the exhaust air and vapors from manufacturing processes by circulating the het waste air and vapors through a Water heating and absorbing device, and utilizing the hot water so absorbed for various purposes in manufacturing, or for use in the heating of buildings, etc.

ln accordance with our invention, the vapors, hot air and vapor, gases, and the like from the drieis, vats, grainers, ironers, or other apparatus, is passed through a chamber or conduit, and water or other liquid is circulated relatively to the vapor stream to er t a thorough transference of the heat of thc hot vapors to the liquid. More particu lai-ly the invention contemplates the injector discharging of Water in the form of tiene sprays into, or in the path of the stream of hot vapors, and in successive stages progressively at different points along the vapor stream in a direction counter to the direction of lloiv of the vapors through the chamber or conduit. By the use of an apparatus comprising a number of units each including Water spraying means and a tank to catch the Water therefrom, With means for recirculating the Water successively through the spray means of the several units progressively providing for a counter flow or circulation of the Water and vapor, the colder Water, or other liquid is brought in contact with the cooler air or vapors. As the treatment proceeds, the Warnier Water is brought into contact With the warmer air or vapors, and ultimately the Warm Water or liquid is subjected to the relatively warm air or vapors, this particular system of treatment of the Water progressively in successive stages at different temperatures involving the counter flow of the water and vapors providing for the eX- traction of the maximum amount of heat from the waste vapors by Contact of the Water with the vapor. The breaking u of the Water or liquid in tine sprays pro-vides a large amount of surface of contact of the water with the waste air and vapors. The heat transference may be and preferably is augmented by subjecting the vapor in its passage through the heating chamber to the action ot baille plates, a series ot ba'tlie plates being preferably associated with each ot the several units -o'l the Kapparrdcus, saictbattle plates functioning to Aseparate or extract the water troni the waste vapors to .prevent lthe mixing` of the water in various units and interference 'with the progressive temperature stages ot treatment.

The invention also contemplates the use of a closed heater. or. series et tubular heaters .in conjunction .with the water spray treat- Ynient in, order to. further increase the vtem- ,..perature oi'.' the. water `by sibleheat or superheat inthe `waste air and utilizing :the senvapor. Y.The closedheater or series oi" closed heaters. maybe employed.anywhere .in the system either prior to or alter the water spray treatment `or .at any intermediate point,` but. preferably, the water, or Iother .liquid .is passed through the series ot' closed I through the heating chamber maybe treated tovrecover these by-products. vThe air after passing through, the treating chainberand being subjected to the water sprays and batties, relieved of its water vapor, or othe vapors, and waste heat is reheated by any suitable means aiid employed over again within the, plant 'tor heating or drying purposes,

thus elnninatino' the -neeessit f `oit the intro- 1 duction ot fresh and relatively cold air trom the outside tor this purpose to take the place of the air which would ordinarily be eX- f liarstcd Jfrom the building.

The invention, with other objects and advantages thereof, will be understood from the hereinafter contained detail description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, and illustrating one embodiment ot an apparatusV for practicing` .the method,

In the drawings:

Figure l is a ho 1izontal section, taken on the line l-l ollligure 2, with parts shown in, plan, ot an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. l is a side elevation ot a partot tli rolls'ot a paper drier and a portion ot the iood and conduit for conducting the vapor trom the rolls.

lFig is a vertical section taken on the line :Z-Qot Figure l, looking in .the direction ot the arrows.

`Fig. 3 is a front end elevation of the construction illustrated Figure l.

Fig. l is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, on the line 4 4 Figure 2.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the forward section or unit ot the treating chamber or conduit.

F ig. 6 is a detail view ot the float. valve ot the i'earniost section oi .the treating chainber.

.ing inlet and outlet endy portions l, 1b, and

mounted to extend.' horizontally Vupon any suitable ifoi'in oic support. `The chamber or Yconduit 1 is provided with a plurality ot spray devices located at intervals along the same, and means is provided Afor circulating water through the spray/devices in successive stages, progressively, startingftroni the outlet end portion ot the chamber or conduit. *Any suitable torni -ot spray device may-be employed, the particular construction shown comprising a main pipe section S extending horizontally across .the lower chamber or conduit 'through one vside 'wall thereof, and provid-ed with vertical branch pipes 4, having a multiplicity ot. relatively short lateral Afrtensions 5, which are provided with nozzles 6.

The water circulating means inclu'desa Ysystem ot pumps 8, and a series ot tanks'9 'located along the bottom of the chamber or conduit to receive the water 'from the spray devices, the spray devices being shown arranged in sets ot two, a tank 9 being provided to receive the water trom each set oit sprays. v10 designates a water supply pipe having branches 10a-10b leading to the first set ot Vspray devices .in the rear end ot the chamber. Vr-lipipe ll connects the rearmost tank 9 with a pumpS, which isshown located along side the chamber. 'Thesaid pump 'discharges through a pipe'lQ and a set ot the spray. devices 'into' the neat tank and so on to the endV ot the series ot' tanks. Each ot the tanks 9 is provided witha short overflow pipe 9, that is connected with a main drain pi ie QD, leading to'any suitable Vpoint providing :tor the carrying away of any excess water and also tor washing out the heaters and tanks. The rearniost tank@ is provided with a fresh water inlet connection 14 whereby the tank may be'lled, when the equipment is started. l5 .designates equalizer connections between the tanks, and 1G is a float valve in one ot the' tanks tor maintaining a constant water level throughout the series ot tanks.

ln conjunction with the spray devices, a series oit closed or tubular heaters i8 is provided, the saine, in the particular'torm ot apjriaratus shown, being` vlocated within the influence ot the vapor stream in the'inlet end portion 1a of the chamber or conduit. 19 is a pump suitably connected for circulating the water from the first of the series of'tanks to the inlet end of the series of tubular heaters, and 20 is a conduit leading from the outlet end of the series of tubular heaters to a suitable storage tank (not shown). The system of pumps 8, and the pump 19, which are shown mounted on the support 2 at one side of the chamber or conduit 1, may be of any suitable type and any suitable operating means therefor (not shown) may be employed.

Arranged at intervals along the chamber or conduit 1 betw'een the sets of spray devices are series of baffles or eliminator plates 21 dividing the chamber into a series of compartments, a series of the Vbaffle or eliminator plates 21, which may be of any suitable construction, being located at the rear end of each of the tanks 9, as shown. 21d are detlectors extending inwardly from the walls of the chamber' at a rearward inclination, said deflectors acting to direct the vapor inwardly from the walls of the chamber and being arranged at intervals along the chamber directly in advance of each of the series :if baille or eliminator plates 21.

The chamber or conduit 1 may be conveniently constructed as shown of a plurality of sheet metal sections suitably secured together, each section constituting a unit of the apparatus comprising` a set of spray devices, a tank and a series of eliminator plates, the several sections being substan `tially similar in construction.

Any suitable means may be provided for contliictiingl the vapors from the drier, cooking vat, salt grainer, or other apparatus or plant and circulating the same throughthe treating chamber or conduit. In the particular exemplilication of the invention illustrated in Figure 9. of the drawings, the inlet end portion 1a of the chamber or conduit is connected by a conduit 22 with a hood arranged over the dryingrolls 24 of a paper drying machine (see Figure 1a), and is a fan connected with the outlet end portion 11 of the chamber, a conduit 26 being connected with the outlet of the fan to convey the air to any desired point.

Any appropriate means may be provided for the purpose of yreheating` the air after its passage throughthe heating chamber. A steam heating coil 27 is shown interposed in the conduit Q6 for this purpose.

In the operation of the apparatus. the. hot air and orV vapor, gases, `or the like from the drier, cookingl vat, salt grainer, paper mill, or other apparatus or plant is circulated through the chamber or conduit 1 in the direction of the arrow. The water or other liquid introduced through the supply pipe and circulated in succession through the sets of spray devices is discharged in tine sprays into or in the path of the hot vapor stream at different points along the same in a direction counter to the flow of the vapors through the conduit, the water, or other liquid, being subjected to progressive stages of temperature. treatment, the cooler water being brought in contact with the cooler air or vapor, the warmer water with the warmer air or vapor, and ultimately the warm water being brought in contact with the relatively warn'i air or vapor. rlie breaking up of the water or liquid in iine sprays in the path of the vapor provides a large amount of surface contact of the water with the waste air and vapors, a thorough transference of '4" the heat of the hot vapors to the water being effected. During the passage of the vapor through the conduit, the series of baffle plates serve to agitate or break up the same assisting in the complete commingling and contact of the water throughout the entire body of air, the series of baffles chiefly functioning however, to separate or extract the water from the waste vapors after each spraying treatment to prevent the mixing of the water in the various units and interference with the progressive temperature stages of treatment. After the successive stages of spray treatment, the temperature of the water is further increased by its passage through the series of closed heaters 18. The water is finally drawn oif from the series of tubular heaters through the conduit to a suitable storage tank, or may be used immedately, as desired, for various purposes. In instances, in which the vapors contain chemicals, the water or other liquid, is treated to recover these by-products. The air after its passage through the. treating chamber relieved of its water vapor, waste heat, and chemicals, is reheated and used over again in the plant, the same being conducted to any desired point for this purpose. In this way is eliminated the necessity of the introduction of fresh and relatively cold air from the -outsi de for this purpose to take the place of the air which would ordinarily be eXhausted from the building, and the additional heat required incident thereto in the use of the colder air, a material saving in the cost of the operation `of the plant being thus accomplished.

1n practicing the invention, chemicals as well as water may be discharge-d in the path of the vapors. For instance, in the use of the invention in connection with blow pits of the Kraft or sulphite system, in order to reduce the acid effect, lime water may be discharged in the path of the vapors instead of pure water.`

The heated water obtained by our improved method hereinbefore set forth, may be employed for feeding boilers, washing purposes or for any of the many uses for which the same may beemployed in connection with manufacturing operations generally, andalso yfor heating'building orother purposes, ou'r improved method including the utilization vof the heat from the vapors, andthe utilization of the reheated air over again for dryii'ig purposes' in the plant, resulting in a `material reduction in the cost of fuel and the cost lof equipment required, and representing a material saving in the cost of operating manufacturing plants.

=lt will be noted that the apparatus is of a compact nature and may be arranged 0n the iioor level with the machines, or can be advantageously installed in a basement, or a Hoor below the vats, grainers, driers or other apparatus.

W'hil-e a particnlar embodiment of the 'inven'tion, which has proven satisfactoryY rn practice, is illustrated in the drawings, it will of course be understood that the particular construction shown may be changedv and modified, and the invention embodied in other forms, as will appeal to those skilled in the art and falling within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the s'p'irit of the invention. Various forms of spray devices may be employed. The size of the treating chamber or conduit and number of sprays and tanks may vary to meet different manufact'i'iring conditions. It will be understood that the invention has an extensive field of usefulness in the treatment of waste air and or vapor, gases, and the like, generally with any process and in connectionwith various kinds of apparatus wherein moisture laden, chemical laden or du'st laden vapors are being liberated or lost, and that'i'n the claims the terms vapor, gas, or the like vare intended and are to be interpreted broadly to comprehend air and or vapor, exhaust fumes, gases and vapors *i generally.

lh'at we claim is:

1. An apparatus of the class described, including a chamber, means for circulating vapor, gas, or the like through said chamber, means for circulating and discharging water inv a spray into the chamber in the path of the vapor, gas, or the like, in separate successive stages progressively at different points along the same in a counter direction to that of the travel of the vapor, gas, or the like through the chamber, said means including` a series of spray devices located at intervals along the chamber, a series of tanks disposed along` the chamber, each one of the tanks being associated with one of the series of spray devices to receive the water therefrom, a water supply connection for one of the series of spray devices, means for 'circulating the water from certain of'the tanks to the other spray devices in series, and means within the chamber located at' intervals along the same between'f the spray devices to separate lWalter from the vapor, gas, or the like and prevent interference between the different temperature stages of treatment of the water. I Y

Q. An apparatus of the c'lassdescribed including a chamber, means for circulating vapor, gas, or the like through said chamber, means for circulating anddischarginig water in a spray into the chaniber vin the path'of the vapor, gas, or the likein separate successive stages at different points along the same in a'counter direction to that of the travel ofthe vapor, gas, or the vlike through the chamber, said means including a 'series of spray devices located vat intervals along the chamber, a series of vtanks along the chamber, each ofthe tanks being associated with one of the series of spray devices to re'- ceive the water therefrom, a water supply connection for one of the series of spray devices, and means for' circulating water from certain of the tanks to the other spray de'- vices in series.

3. An apparatus of the class described, including a chamber, means for circulating vapor, gas, or rthe like through said chamber, n'i'eans for circulating and discharging water in a spray into the chamber in the path of the vapor, gas 'or the like in separate suc'- ccssi've stages progressively at different points along the same in a counter direction to that of the travel of the vapor, gas, Aor the like through the chamber, said means includinr a series of spray devices located at intervals along the chamber, a series of tanks disposed along the chamber, each `one of the anks being associated with one yof the series of spray devices to .receive the water therefrom, a water supply coi'inection for one of the series of spray devices, means for circulating the water from certain of the tanks to the other spray devices in series, and series of eliminator plates located at interjvals along they chamber at one end of the tanks between the spray devices to separate water from the vapor, gas, or the like and prevent interference between the different temperature stages of treatment of the water.

ll-. An apparatus of the class described, in cludinp" a horizontally extendingrr conduit, means for circulating vapor, gas, or the like throngh said conduit, means for circulating and discharging water in a spray into the conduit in the path of the vapor,ga"s, or the like in separate successive stages progressively at different points along the same in a counter direction to that of the travel of the vapor, gas, or the like through the conduit, said means including a series of spray devices located at intervals along the conduit, a series of tanks disposed alongy the bottom of the conduit, each one of the tanks being associated with vone of the series of spray devices to receive the water therefrom, a water supply connection for one of the series of spray devices, and means for circulating Water from certain of the tanks to the other spray devices in series. l

5. An apparatus of the class described, including a horizontally extending conduit, means for circulating vapor, gas, or the like through said conduit, means for circulating and discharging Water in a spray into the conduit in the path ot the vapor, gas or the like in separate successive stages progres sively at different points along the same in a counter direction to that of the travel ot' the vapor, gas, or the like through the conduit, said means including a series of spray devices located at intervals along the conduit, a series ot' tanks disposed along the bottom of the conduit, each one ot the tanks being associated with one of the series ot' spray devices to receive the Water therefrom, a Water supply connection for one of the series of spray devices, means for circulating Water from certain of the tanks to the other spray devices in series, and series oitl eliminator plates extending transversely ot the conduit and located at intervals along the same between the spray devices to sepaf rate Water from the vapor, gas, or the like and prevent interference between the dift'erent temperature stages of treatment of the Water.

6. An apparatus of the class described including a chamber, means for circulating vapor', gas, or the like through said chamber, means for circulating and discharging Water in a spray into the chamber in the path of the vapor, gas, or the like in separate successive stages progressively at diierent points along the same in a counter direction to that of the travel of the vapor, gas, or the like through the chamber, said means including' series of eliminator plates located at intervals along the chamber and dividing the same into a series of compartments, spray devices located at intervals along the chamber between the series of eliminator plates, and separate tanks along the chamber tor receiving the water from the respective spray devices, said series of eliminator plates acting to separate. Water from the vapor, gas, or the like and prevent interference between the dilferenttemperature stages of treatment of the Water.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aii'ix our signatures.

EDWARD LAWRENCE HOGAN. GEORGE STANFORD WITHAM, Jr. 

